“Boiler Plate Specifications”: The Use of Templates in

The Lighting Design Process

By: Jerry Cassel, LC; Senior Specification Engineer

What is a “boiler plate” and how does the use of a “template” aid and assist a
Lighting Designer or Electrical Engineer in producing a valid spec, job by job, and
do it effectively to meet the Construction Document time line?

As a Lighting Specification Engineer for GE responsible for driving GE branded

specifications in my territory, I often ask the Engineer and Designer “…who is listed in
your spec? Which format are you using? How often do you update it?” Many times,
the answer is one wrapped in an aura of amazement that I would even raise the
question. But invariably, the discussion centers around the wonderment as to
whether the spec is even current and second, whether the template really includes
valid spec language reflecting new technologies and up to date codes and legislation
in effect for the region. Most responses go like this: “…you know, I don’t even know
the last time we updated the spec. Let me see if I can find it.”

The use of a boiler plate or template can be a good thing but left to grow stale in a
binder or on a hard-drive becomes useless, something to agonize over, knowing it’s
out of date and that time spent away from billable hours to update the template can
not be justified. Many times, I see relief on the face of the specifier when I offer to
look over the template and offer suggested language to get them up to speed.

Definitions

According to Wikipedia, the term “template” is often used in the context of software
engineering [having] various technical specifications, but is generally identified as
any processing element that can be combined with a data model and processed by
a template engine to produce a result document. [1> The term “boiler plate” other
than referring to “a relatively thick sheet of high quality steel, suitable for building
boilers” generally means “text (or program code) that can be used in a variety of
situations”. “Boilerplate” is any text that is or can be reused in new contexts or
applications without being changed much from the original. Many computer
programmers often use the term “boilerplate code”. A legal boilerplate is a standard
provision in a contract. The term boilerplate is adopted by lawyers to describe those
parts of a contract that are considered "standard language", although it is good
practice to always read the boilerplates in any contract. [2> More recently in the
electrical distribution business, the term “Guideform Spec” is sometimes referred to
as the document used to generate a standard specification.

For the lighting industry, or any industry employing a CSI formatted specification, the
use of standard langauge which can be “cut and pasted” eases the work load of the
 specifier in efficiently producing valid Construction Documents (CD’s) for each job.
The real task is not altering the spec from job to job, but simply keeping the boiler
plate spec langauge up to date.

If we understand where this document comes into play during The Design Process,
as outlined in the flow chart below, we can know the real value of the template.

Lighting Design Process

Property Owner

Authorize Authorize
Construction Construction
Documents Budget &
Ground Break
Request for Develop Programming Review with
Architect,
Architectural Design between Owner
MEP &
Bid Owner and Architect General
Designer Construct and
Yes Contractor
Release Build-out
Selected
CD’s to GC
Accept No and EC
Winning Architect ? Owner
GC Bid for Occupancy
and Select
Electrical
Bid for Winning Contractor Post Occ.
MEP MEP Review by
Is Lighting
Review Design Team
Designer
Required? Schematic
No Collaborate ²Electrical
Design EC buys from GE
with Contractor
with Lighting and other
Designer Selects
Yes Architect Vendors via
Electrical
¹Lighting Distributors
Distributor
Designer Schematic
Selected Design
by MEP Review and EC & Distributor Produces
Redesign “Submittal” Package to
Process Design Team, (if requested)
¹Architect uses Lighting Designer if the Architect or MEP is not responsible for doing the lighting layout
J Cassel, 7-12-06
²Electrical Contractor sends out for bids from the Electrical Distributors

Using a valid Guideform Spec should occur in the proces as early as the “Schematic
Design” step, (green circle). However, in reality, most specs are generated after the
Owner authorizes forward progress, usually when a 50% CD review is scheduled
(blue circle). However, by the time the designer achieves 90% CD review, the looming
deadline leaves little time to truly render a valid spec document and meeting the
dead line date overrides any concern that the Guideform Spec is current.

Therefore, let’s address the following questions…

1. when should a specifier update the spec langauge and how often should the
template be reviewed?
2. What are the key components of a valid Guideform Spec?
Updating a Specification

The most important milestone driving the need for a spec review and update is the
adoption of new electrical codes and the passage of legislation mandating changes
in technology. As noted by Stefan Graf, IALD Ypsilanti, MI, USA, Principal, IlluminArt in
his article “Importance of Using a Lighting Designer”, IALD web page
http://www.iald.org/design/importance.asp, “Lighting equipment and controls
technologies are developing at light speed: hundreds of new products are introduced
to the marketplace annually. To provide proper design solutions that make use of the
latest, most-cost-effective technologies, lighting professionals must attend national
trade shows and continually update product information and samples from hundreds
of manufacturers. Keeping abreast of newest weapons in the lighting arsenal has
become time intensive and more essential. Independent lighting consultants do not
sell or install equipment, nor do they depend on the recommendations of lighting
salespersons. So the client receives a lighting design based on research and expertise
-- free from conflicts of interest.” [3> Right on Stefan!

The key of any successful design is the translation of knowledge gained by the
Designer and Engineer in this fast developing industry to the finished project. The
translation is manifested through valid communication to the parties that execute
the intent of the design. That key document is the written specification, which is
normally patterned from a template. Examples of swift changes catching specifiers
off guard are the Metal Halide Ballast legislations. In January 2008, Mercury ballasts
went away. This year, the efficiencies of Metal Halide Ballast from 150w to 500w
were raised effective January 1, 2009, such that most specs calling for Probe Start
Ballasts no longer meet the intent of EISA07, the Energy Independence and Security
Act of 2007. The code basically forces the designer to call out Pulse Start Ballasts.

Although Specifiers may not update the template often enough, in actuality it’s 2-5
years between revisions, most agree an annual assessment and revision is
desireable.

Key Components of a Lighting Guideform Specification

Although the Guideform spec is a living document and highly customized to meet the
intent of the design or the marketplace severed there are key components, which
must be considered as minimum content. Without actually inserting a complete
template, here is a brief run down.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Drawings and general provisions of the Contract, including General and
Supplementary Conditions and Division 1 specification sections apply to the work of
this Section.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK
 QUALITY ASSURANCE

REFERENCES
• NEC Compliance: Comply with the NEC as applicable to the installation and
construction of lighting fixtures.
• NEMA Compliance: Comply with applicable requirements of NEMA Standard
Pub. Nos. LE-1 and LE-2 pertaining to lighting equipment.
• ANSI/UL Compliance: Comply with ANSI/UL Standards pertaining to interior
and exterior lighting fixtures for hazardous locations.
• CBM Labels: Provide fluorescent lamp ballasts that comply with Certified
Ballast Manufacturers Association Standards and carry the CBM label.
• NECA Compliance: Comply with NECA's "Standard of Installation".

SUBMITTALS
Submit manufacturer's product data on lighting fixtures, typically found on a Fixture
Schedule: Name of manufacturer, descriptive cut sheets, complete photometric
information, coefficient of utilization tables, fixture voltage, the number, type and
wattage of lamps, ballast manufacturer, ballast factor (BF) and type, lens types,
fixture options, fixture mounting details, fixture door types, construction of fixture
housing and/or door,

EXTRA MATERIALS

FLUORESCENT BALLASTS
Standard use, Dimming, Emergency Fluorescent Power Packs:

HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE BALLASTS

LAMPS
LFL, CFL, HID, CMH, HPS

EXECUTION

Although many details come to bear on the production of a successful Guideform

spec, the knowledge imparted will prove to be a key contributor to a viable project.
As I said at the opening, the use of a boiler plate or template can be a good thing. As
technology continues to be ever changing and the legislative forces drive
improvements, your GE Specification is keeping abreast of the industry and stands
ready to help and assist the Designer and Engineer with update Guideform Specs
and suggested language.

References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_(software_engineering)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boilerplate_(text)
http://www.iald.org/design/importance.asp